Progressive and selective gear shift



Jan. 22, 1929.

E. F. SCHMIDT PROGRESSIVE AND SELECTIVE GEAR SHIFT Filed March 16, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 22, 1929` 1,699,814 B. F. SCHMIDT PROGRESSIVE AND SELECTIVE GEAR SHIFT Filed March 16, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 26 M 7 f7/77 4. f Z7o 65 a "d Zf Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699,814

B. F. SCHMIDT PROGRESSIVE AND SELECTIVE GEAR SHIFT Filed Ma'rch 16, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 22, 1929. I 1,699,814 B. F. scHMlDT PROGRSSIVE AND SELECTIVE GEAR SHIFT Filed March 16, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 TToE/'y Jan. 22, 1929.

B. F. SCHMIDT PROGRESSIVE AND SELEZCTIVE GEAR SHIFT Filed March 16, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

UNITED STATES i y ,y 1,699,814 ,mTENrOFFICE.l

BENJAMIN F. SCHMIDT, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0 KING C. GILLETTE AND ONE-FOURTH TO KING G. GILLETTE, BOTH OF LOS ANGELES,

CALIFORNIA.

IEROGRESSIVE AND SELEOTIVE GEARSHIFT.

Application filed March 16, 1926. Serial No. 95,016. l

Thisv invention relates to an improved type of progressive and selective gear shift mechanism, and is particularly directed to a mechanism adapted for association with the sliding gear type of speed change transmission mechanism such as is usually incorporated in motor vehicles.

It is an object of the present invention to dering it possible to selecta progression of gear changes to be effected to attain the desired gear shift, and further it is an object to arrange the mechanism in a manner whereby witha single setting of said lever the several gear changes of such progression will automatically be effected upon successive clutch pedal actuations. It is also an object to maintain such progressive gear (changing under automatic control of an escapement means confining such progressive gear changing to'gear changes upwardly from reverse to high driving speeds and functioning as an automatic ratchet means permitting unrestricted selection downwardly from high to reverse speed changes.

Another object is to provide a gear shift mechanism of the above character having a rotary selectively positioned actuator unit adapted to be pre-set prior to each clutch pedal actuation, to determine the gear change to he effected, and to be rotated during a clutch pedal actuation, to effect said gear change, said actuator unit insuring a normalizing of the gears between each pedal actuation and having a positive actuation in relation to the depression of the clutch pedal to insure a disengagement of the clutch prior to a gear shift and a completion of a selected gear shift prior to reengagement of the clutch;` and a further object is to make provisions whereby, after a gear change is effected. various other gear changes may be selected and chompleted prior to reengagement of the clutc4 Various other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from the following description of the Vaccompanying drawings which form a part ofv this disclosure, and which illustratea preferred-form of embodiment of the invention.

Of ,the drawings, v

Fig. 1 is a fragment-ary plan view of a motor vehicle chassis showing the location .of my improved gear shifting mechanism Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5--5h of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is al detail section taken on the line Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

Fig.V 9 is a perspective View of the. rotary selector unit.

Fig. 10 is a plan view-similaitto Fig. 4, showing the mechanism set for a shifting operation into low.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 9, showing the parts set for a shift into low, the slide plates having been normalized preparatory to such shift. n

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 19.-12 of Fig. 11. l

Fig. 13 is a section similar to Fi 12, showing the shift to low completed.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig'. 13, showing the selector unit returned to normal after the shift to low has been completed.

Fig. 15 is a section taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 1G is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 10.

In the drawings, 1 designates the frame ofA a motor vehicle having a power plant 2, a transmission casing 3, containing the usual speed change gearing, a clutch pedal 4 which operates the usual clutch between the engine and the transmission gears, and a steering wheel() on the usual vsteering column G. The

gear shifting means of the present invention v 1s contained' Within a housing 7 which is adapted to be secured to the transmission casing 3 to cover the usual'opening in the top wall thereof, by bolts 8 or by other suitable means, said housing having a cover plate 9 removable to afford access to the interior mechanism. Y

v The housing "7 contains a ,preferred type of mechanism (to beflater described) arranged to effect 1the desired shifting of the usual sliding lgears of the transmission and includes a horizontalmain operating shaft 10 journaled in the side walls of the housing v and extending exteriorly thereof on the -side towards the steering column', vand a vertical selector operating shaft 11 journaled in bearings formed in said housing. In the operation of thedevice the shaft 11 is rocked to select the speed change-to be effected and the main shaft 1() is then .rotated to cause the actual shifting of the gears.

The pre-selectiv actuation ofthe shaft- 11 is effected lthrough its connections Vwith a selector lever 12 positioned just below the steering Wheel 5 with its free end within convenient reach of a hand of the operator -on the rim of said steering wheel. This selector lever 12|.is provided with a. spring expelled detent 13 arranged to cooperate' with retaining notches 14 in a quadrant 15 along which the lever 12 moves, and said quadrant has designating characters R, N, L, I, H on its upper surface adjacent the respective notches and serving to indicate the respective reverse, neutral, low, intermediate and high positions 'of the lever. The quadrant- 15 is preferably clamped tothe steering column 6 and pro.- vides a bearing for the upper end of a rod l 16 to which the lever 12 is connectechythe lower end of said rod being journaled in il' bracket 17 clamped on the lower portion of the steering column. Secured on the lowery portion of the rod 16 is an arm 18 having a universal ball joint connection 19 with a link connection 20, which extends rearwardly and is pivotally connected, preferably by 'a ball joint/connection similar to that designated at 19, with theiouter end of an arm 21 fixed on the exterior end of the selector operating shaft 11. 4 E

This arrangement provides a selector control conveniently accessible for manipulation by the driver of the vehicle.

lith particular reference to Fig. et, it. will be noted that the outer end portion of the' arm 21 comprises a threaded member 21L1 which is screw-threaded into the main portion of said arm and is provided with a lock nut 2l". This arrangement provides for a ylengthening' or shortening of the arm 21 to closely adjust the throw of the selector operating shaft 11 relative to the fixed degrees of movement of the selector lever 12 as defined by thev definitely `located notches 14 in the quadrant 15,it of course being understood that prior to such adjustment the rear end of the link connection 2O will be disconnected from the arm 21.

The foot pedal 4 is fixed to the brake operating shaft 'l1-which extends into the transmission easing 3 and is arranged to operate the brake in the usual manner. Secured to the shaft 4 is an upstanding arm 22 and to the u Vper ,end of said arm is pivotally conneeted) a gear shift operating link 23 which is operatively associated with the main shaft 10 in a manner to convert the reciprocating movements of said link to rotary movements of the shaft l0. This connection is more particularly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, in which the rear end of the link 23 is shown to be vertically slotted to provide relatively spaced limbs 23a having relatively aligned longitudinal slots 23'D through which the shaft 10 projects and which perl'nit the link 23 to freely slide on the shaft 10 when reciprocated. Positioned between said limbs 23n and secured to the shaft 10is aV cam member 24 having a slot 24a in which rides a pin 25 carried by the two links 23a of the link 23. This arrangement permits an idle reciprocation of the gear shift operating link 23 during the clutch disengaging and clutch engaging operations, that is,during the first part of a depression of the clutch-pedal 4, during which time the clutch will be disengaged, the pin 25 will ride idly forward in the slot 24a in the cam member 24A and with the continuation of the depression of the clutch pedal the pin 25 will rock the cam member 24 to the dotted line posit-ion indicated in Fig. 6, thus effecting a gear shifting rotation of the shaft 10. Upon a reverse operation of the clutch pedal the shaft 10 will first be returned to normal position and the clutch will then be let in while t-he pin 25 slides idly back to thel rear end of the slotl 24a. It will be evident thatthis arrangement will effectively preventrotative overthrow of the shaft 1f).

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 5 and 15, it will be observed that the front wall of the housing 7- exten'ds forwardly to provide two parallel horizontal bosses 2G having respective vertical bosses 2T aligned therewith, and that the lower wall 28 extends only a short distance forwardly from the rear wall 29. The bosses 2G and the lower wall 2S are horizontally bored as at 30, 30 and slidableI in these aligned bores are two shift rods 3l and 32, the shiftrod 31 having secured to its medial. portion a gear shifting fork 31n and the shift rod 32 having secured to its medial portion a similar gear shifting fork 32. Each of the bosses 27 is provided with a vertical bore intersecting the respective bore 30 and containing a bevel nose detent 27 which 1s urged by a spring 27b to engage the respeclll() Vfie lli

tive shift rod and to enter one ofa series of three beveled notches 33 cut therein, said spring abutting against a closure plug 27c` secured in the outer end of the vertical bore.,v The yforks extend downwardly into the transmission casing and engage the ,respective sliding gears of the transmission meeha' nism, as indicated in Fig. 13, and said forks will be selectively operated toV effect the desir-ed speed change, the respective dctents 27, by their engagement with the respective notches 33 in the shift r'ods., maintaining sai-drods and the forks against movement until positively operated. The trans-mission may be of any of the well known-types of sliding gear transn'iission and the arrangement may,v

as in the present instance, be suoli that a rear,- ward shift of the fork 311 from neutral position will condition the transmission for a reverse drive and a forward shift of said fork rfrom neutral posit-ion will.conditionthe transmission for a low forward drive, while a rearward shift of the fork 32 from neutral posi-V tion will condition the transmission for an intermediate forward drive and a forward shift of said fork 32 from neutral position will condition the transmission for a high forward drive.

rlhe hub portions of the respective forks are provided with apertures 31,1, 32", to .receive thefree ends of a pair of actuator levers Iwhich are pivoted on a rod 34 mounted within the housing, and while it is realized that said levers may be of integral construction, they are in the present instance formed of respective pairs of spaced plates 35 and 3G joined at their free ends by filler blocks 35 and 36, as is particularlyT well illust-rated in Fig. 15, thus providing said levers 35 and 33 with medial slots to receive the upper ends of respective cam'plates 37 and 38which are pivotally connected to said levers by, pins 39 and 10. The cam plates 37 and 38 are of general rectangular shape and are guided for longitudinal i'eciprocation in slots ll in the lower wall 28 and in slots 42 in a short inter mediate wall 43 of the housing.4 A strap fdl attached to said wall 4-3 bridges over the upper edges of said plates to prevent their displacement.

The main shaft' l() passes through large central apertures in the plates 37 and 3S. and splined to slide longitudinally upon the shaft lt) is a rotary selective actuator cam unit, indicated generally by the reference character A. and illustrated in perspective in Fig. 9. The central apertures in the cam plates 37 and 38 are ofsufficientsize and of thes proper contour to permit a selective longitudinal shifting of said cam unit when said unit and said plates are in neutral positions, such shifting being accomplished by the se lective actuation of the selector shaft 11 which has fixed theretoa forked arm l5 carf7 formed atone end ofthe cam unit.

The apertures in the vrespective camplates are of similar contour, the plate 37 .having opposite neutral cam shoulders 37 vand 37", a reverse cam shoulder R37 and a low cam shoulder L?, andthe plate 33 having opposite neutral cam shoulders 38and 38, an intermediate cam shoulderl 138, and a high camy shoulder llas.' Theselseveral cam shoulders are adapted to besep'arately engaged by the cam unit during its rotation vto first normalize the cam plates and then reciprocate one or theotherof said cam plates to effect the desired gear-shift, and to `this end the body portion of the cam unit A isV of a general cylindrical shape and is out awayv on opposite sides to. form neutralizing cam surfaces 48 and 48h extending throughout the major portion of the length of said cam unit, these cam surfaces being adapted, during the rfirst portion of' an operating rotation of said cani unit, to engagea. neutral cam shoulder of one or the other of the'cam plates as may have beenrshifted during a previous gear shifting operation-.and return said shifted plate to neutral or normal position before a newly selected gear shift is effected, thus always insuring a. neutralization of the transmission between gear shifts.

At suitably spacedintervals the cam unit A is provided with cani Ylugs which are selectively brought into cooperative alignment with the cam plates 37 and 38 upon a longi tudinal selectiveJ shifting of the cam unit."

Selectively, the cam lug R may be aligned with the cam plate -37 to'engage the cam' shoulder R37 and shift said plate rearwardly upon proper rotation of the cam unit, thus effecting` a reverse gear shift, the cani lug L may be aligned with the cam plate 37 to engage the cam shoulder L37 and shift said plate forwardly upon proper rotation of the cam unit, thus effecting a low gear shift,

the cani lug I may be aligned with the cam reciprocation of the respective cam plates, the edges of said grooves being suitably' chamfered to prevent fouling of tlie parts.

At the end of the cani unit A there is provided a se"ctoi-shaped aligning plate 50 which is intended to engage het-Ween the adjacent prongs 51 of a forked plate 52 secured in the upper portion of the housing 7, for preventing a shifting of the cam unit during its rotation and for insuring a proper alignment of the cam lugs with the respective cam plates.

The mechanism thus fardescribed would provide a ully selective gear shift; however, it is an important'feature of the present invention to produce a shift mechanism which while fully selective in one direction of selective sequence, is arranged to insure a prh gressive stepby-step selection fromreverse 'to,high driving speeds. The mechanism for directing such progressive selection comprises a ratchet plate 60 pivotally and slidably mounted on a short rod 61, opposite the forked plate 52, saidrodpassing through side ears 62a, 62b of said ratchet plate and bein(r secured at opposite ends in. relatively spaced ears 63, 631 of a stationary plate 63, said ears 63 and 63 serving as stops limiting the sliding movements of the ratchet plate. The sta-VV tionary plate 63 is secured preferably to the short wall 43 vpreviously .referred to and the vfree end ofthe ratchet plate is provided with twol ratchet teeth 60", 6()b bentdownwardly to extend towards the axis of the main shaft 10 so as to normally extend into the path of sliding movement of the Vplate 50 o'n the cam unit A,

-61 between an abutment 61, thereon and the the downward movement'of said teethv being limited by contact of the ears 60, 6()b with the plate 63. A coil spring'64 surrounds the rod ear 62 of the ratchet plate, one end of said spring being attached to said ear 62a as at 64 and the other end engaging the stationary i plate 63 as at 641'. This spring is normally l' under circular tension to yieldingly maintain the ratchet plate swung to normal position with its teeth in thepath of the aligning plate 50, and` is also under compressive tension to yieldingly maintain said vratchet plate nor- The cam unit A may then be rotated to shift the gears andduring such rotationthe rear edge of the aligning plate 50`will escape the tooth whereupon the-ratchet plate will be shifted back to its normal position by the spring 64. lVhen the cam unit'A is then given a return rotation, the plate 50 will enter between the two ratchet teeth as shown in Fig. 11 so that upon further upward shift to intermediate the plate 50 engages the ratchet tooth 60b and again shifts the ratchet plate. The cam unit A may again be rotated to shift the gears, the plate 50 escaping the tooth 60h and the ratchet plate 60" again as before. The single step shift from intermediate to high is effected independV ently of the ratchet plate. Upon any re- Verse shifting of the cam unit A the plate 50 will ratchet by the teeth 60a, 60", rocking the ratchet plate to the position indlcated vin dottedlin'es in Fig. 16, as theplate 50 passes each tooth. Thus the plate 60 serves none.

instance as an eseapement device determining a step-by-step progression upwardly to high and as a ratchet device permitting p cam unit A and that upon a depression of the `clutch pedal 4 thev clutch will first be disengaged and subsequently the cam unit A will be rotated, the first portion .of said rotation effecting a normalization of such of the cam plates 37, 38 as may have been shifted during a prior gear shifting 'operation and the continued rotation of said cam unit ei'ecting a proper shifting of the selected cam plate to accomplish v the desired speed change.

vWith the parts in normal positions` and the cam unit A set to neutral, as shown Vin Figs. 4 to 9 and 15, `the clutch will be in engagement and a rotationof the cam unit by a depression of 'the clutch pedal will have no effect upon the gear. `shift mechanism as neither of the cam lugs of said cam unit is at this time in alignment with either ofthe cam plates; however,had a cam'plate been out of neutral position one or the other of the neutral cam surfaces 48, 48" of the cam unit would haveaeted upon one of the neutral cam shoulders of such plate and returned it to its neutral position.

From the neutral position shown'in Fig. 4;, let'it be assumed that the cam unit A is shifted in the direction of the arrow D one step. This will bring the aligning plate 50 opposite the reverse slot R in they forked Vplate 52 and the cam lug R and-companion vthe arrows :1? in Figs. 4 to 6 and such rotation will cause the aligning plate 50 to enter the reverse slot Il in the forked plate 52 and thereverse cam lug R to engage the reverse cam shoulder R37 of the cam plate 37 and shift said cam plate rearwardly and with ittheactuator arm 35 and gear shifting fork 31, thus effecting ashifting of the transmission gears toreverse. 'Upon release ot the clutch pedal 4 the cam unit A will be robeing shifted back-to its normal lposition otatedin a reverse directon,' the datent 27a any i loo 60 `to the position shown in Fig. 10, thus pre-V venting the cam unit A being shifted farther L in this direction in a single shifting movement. In thisposition of t-he camunit the plate 50 is aligned with the low slotL of the forked plate 52 and thecam lug L is in alignment with the cam plate 37. A rotation of the @am unit will cause the lug Lu to engage the low cam shoulder L7 of the cam plate 37 and shift said cam plate forwardly, as shown in Fig. 13, and with it the actuator arm 35 and gear shifting fork 31a,

- thus eii'ecting a shifting of the transmission gears to low, the ratchet escapement plate escaping beneath the lower edge of the upwardly'traveling'aligning plate 50 and returning to its normal position under the influence of its spring 6-l. Upon the return rotationof the cam unit A from the position shown in Fig. 13 to the position shown in Figs. 11 and 14, t-he aligning platev() will enter the. space between the two teeth 6()a and 6()b of the ratchet plate 60 so that upon a subsequent shift from-low to interme-V diate position said ratchet plate will again serve to limit the shifting of the'cam unit in a manner similar to that above explained.

Vhen said shift of the cam unit A from low to intermediate is made in the direction-of the arrow U in Fig. 11, the aligning plate 5() will align with the. intermediate slot I in the forked plate 52 and the intermediate cam lug Ia of said cam unit will align with the cam plate 38, similar to the positionillustrated vin Fig. 8. IlVith the parts so set, an operating rotation'of the .cam unit A will cause the aligning plate 50 to enterthe intermediate slot I inthe forked plate 52 and the intermediate cam lug Ia to engage the intermediate cam shoulder Isf5 of the cam plate 38 and shift said ca'm plate rearwardly and with it the actuatorarm 36 and shifting;

fork o2?, 1aus effecting ashijfting of the transmission gears lto i intermediate, the

- ratchet plate 6.0 escaping beneath the lower edge of the aligning plate t50 as before explained. In a similar manner a shift-ing of the cam unitA to high position will bring the "high cam lug Ha into-position to engage the high cam shoulder H38 of the cam -plate 38 and effect a shift of the transmission gears `tolhigh.

' lVhile the shift progression upwardly to y high7 thus follows a predetermined sequence, there 1s no restraint upon a free yselection 1n the reverse dlrection, that 1s, a selection from anyone setting, downwardly (towards reverse)` to anyother setting may be made in a single selective setting of the vcam unit A.

The present invention further contemplates the provisionof a tension means in the link connection 20 between the setting lever 12 and the selector shaft 11, such tension means serving as a shock absorber preventeoy having an internal shoulder 65, anda plug 65b secured in its-free end and providing an opposed shoulder, and a rod section 66 slidable through a central bore in said plug and provided with an abutment shouldel` 66. A washer 67 -loosely surrounds the rod section 66 and 'normally rests upon the shoulder 65a and an opposite washer 68 likewise looselysurrounds Said rodv section and normally engages the shoulder 65C, a coil spring 69 which surrounds therod secti on within the tu-` bular sectionbeing normally under suiicient tension to maintain said washers against their respective ,cooperating shoulders. An abutment nut 7() is Secured to the end of the rod section below the washer 67, and the opposite ends of the telescoping tubular and rod sections are respectively connected to the arms 18 and 21, as preyiously explained.

As the aligning'plate `50 engages the forked plate 52 while the gears are being shifted, it

will be evident that with an unylelding connection between the selector mechanism and the control lever 12,'a subsequent gear. shift couldnot be selected until the gears are fully shifted and the plate 5() is returned to normal. IVith the yielding connection above -described such pre-selection can bey effected while the gears are being shifted and with the plate-50 vengaged in a slot in the forked plate 52, suchpre-selective movement of the lever 12 causing-relative movement between the-telescoping sections of the link connection 2O with a resultant storage of energy in the spring 69. Upon return to normal of the cam unit A upon completion of the gear shift and the consequent withdrawal of the aligningpflate 50 from engagement with the forked.v

Ifig. 3 that the link connection 20 is effective duringmovement of thecontrol lever 12 in either direction so that if the pre-selection is towards reverse ,and the lever 12 exerts a push on the link section 66, its shoulder 66av e on the link section 66 the abutment nut 70 on' said rod section engaging the Washer 67 will translatesaid Washer and compress the spring 69, thus exerting apulling tension on'theliiik section 65. In theipresent invention this tension link connection is of particular utility in the operation of shifting to high in the n progressive manner heretofore explained and as governed by the ratchet plate 60, as said link connection has a sufhcient scope of movement to permit the setting lever 12 being preset directly to high, thus storing sufficient energy in the s ring 69 to automatically carry the cam unit through the step-by-step se- `lective progression necessary to' effect the upward progressive shiftingof the gears upon the subsequent successive rotations of the cam unit A by the successive manipulations of the clutch pedal. That is, With the parts as shoivn in Fig. 4, a pre-setting of the lever 12 to the high position Will first cause the cam unit A and the ratchet plate 60 to be shifted to the position shown in Fig. lOand then the spring 69 in the link connection will be fully tensioned. In effecting a shift into low by operation of the cam unit the plate will allow escapement of the ratchet plate While the low shift is being made and Will then return between the tivo teeth of said ratchet plate, whereupon the energy stored in the spring will immediately effect a shift of the cam unit A and ratchet plate 60 another step to the intermediate position. A shift of the gears to intermediate will again permit escapeinent of the, ratchet plate 60 and upon rotative return of the cam unit the energy stored in the spring 69 Will further be effective to' shift the cam unit to high position for the completion of the gear shift to high.

It will of course be understood that the original or normal tension of the spring 69 will be substantially sufficient to overcome the ordinary frictional resistance and inertia of the cam unit against longitudinal shifting,

` and the frictional retarding infiuence of the ratchet plate 60, due to its spring 64, so that said spring 69 will not be compressed to store energy unless the cam unit is positively held against shifting by the forked plate 52 or the ratchet plate 60, or is appreciably retarded by fouling or clogging of the parts.

Thus the mechanism above described permits an unrestricted pre-selection While the quently and automatically determined in a step-by-step progressive sequence, 'and While such mechanism'in this preferred form of embodiment is fully capable of fulfilling all of t-he objects primarily stated,- it is to be understood that I do not ivishgto limit the invention to any of the specific details herein disclosed,

for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms, all embraced Within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a gear shift mechanism, the combination of: shift-er members each separately translatable in opposite directions from a neutral. position yto effect different gear changes; a rotary actuator unit having a plurality of relatively spaced shifter engaging elements and axially translatable across the paths of said shifter members; means for axially translating said unit to selective positions corresponding to the desired gear shift, to position one of said elements in cooperative alignment With one of said shifter members; and means for subsequently rotating said actuator unit in a positive operative direction to translate the selected shifter memsoy ber in a proper direction to effect the desired nation of: a shifter member translatable in i opposite directions from a neutral position to effect different gear changes; a rotary actuator unit having relatively spaced shifter engaging elements and axially translatable` across the path of said shifter member; means for axially translating said unit te selective positions corresponding to the desired gear shift, to position one of said elements in cooperative alignment with said shifter member; and means for subsequently rotating said actuator unit in a positive operative direction to translate said shifter member in a proper direction to effect the desired gear change.

3. In a gear shift mechanism, the combination of: shifter members each separately translatable in opposite directions from a neutral position to effect different gear changes; a rotary actuator unit rotatable in a positive operative direction to translate one or the other ofy said shifter members in either direction; means for axially translating said actuator unit to pre-'determine the shifter member to be actuated and the direction of such actuation; and means for subselll) quently rotating said actuator unit to effect the desired gear change.

4. In a gear shift mechanism, the combination of: a shifter member translatable in opposite directions from a neutrall position to y either direction; means for axially translat- "ing said actuator unit to pre-determine the direction ofactu'ation of said shifter member; and means for subsequently rotatingl said actuator unit to effect the desired gear change. 5. In a gear shiftmeelianism, the combinationof: a shifter member having opposed cam shoulders and translatable in lopposite directions from a neutral position to eect diderent gear changes; a rotatory actuator cam unit having oppositely disposed 'cam i lugs spaced longitudinally; means for axially translating said unit,selectivelyacross'the path of said shifter member to align one of said lugs with one of said cam shoulders; and means Nfor subsequently rotating said calm -unit in a positive operating direction to translate the shifter member in a proper direction to effect the desired gearchange.

6. In a gear shift mechanism,v the combination of: a rotary actuator unit; a gear shifting cam plate translatable transversely thereto forwardly or rearwardly from a neutral position to effect different gear changes-,- said plate having opposed cam shoulders disposed respectively above and below said actuator unit, said actuator unit being provided with two actuator lugs relatively spaced lon# gitudinally and circul arly; means for axially translating said unit selectively `acrossthe path of saidplate to align one of said lugs-- with one of said cam shoulders; and means for subsequently rotating said actuator unit in a positive operatingI directionvto cause said aligned lug to translate said cam plate in the pre-selected direction to effect the de-.

sired gear change.

7. In a gear shift mechanism; the combination of: shifter memberseach lseparately translatable in opposite directions from a neutral position to effect different 'gear changes, said members each having opposed cam shoulders; a rotary actuator"cain.unit

having two pairs of oppositelydisposed cam lugs with the several lugs relatively spaced longitudinally of said unit; means for axially translating said unit selectively across the.

paths of said lsihifter members to align one ofsaid lugs with one of said 'cam shoulders; andi means for subsequently rotating said -caniunit in a positive operating direction to cause said aligned lug to translate one l`of. said shifter members ineither direction; depending upon the pre-selective positioning of said cam unit, to effect the desired gear change.

8. In a gear shift mechanism', the combination of: shifter' members having opposed abutments and each separately translatable in opposite directions from a neutral position to effect different-gear changes; a rotary actuator unit having'a plurality of longitudinally 4 spaced pairs of shifter engaging elements. with those of each pair circularly spaced, said unit being axially translatable across the paths of said shifter members; means for selectively 'translating said actuator unit to a position corresponding to the desired gear change with one of said elements in alignment with one of the abutments of a shifter member; and means for subsequently rotat-` ing said actuator unit in onedirection to `cause said aligned element to effect a translation of either of said shifter members in either direction, depending upon the p re-V "selective translation of said 'actuator unit.

9. In a gear shift mechanism, the combination of: a rotary shaft; an actuator unit rotatable with said shaft and axially slidable thereon; parallel shifter members each separately translatable" transversely of said unit in opposite directions from a neutral position to effect different. gear changes, .each

"of said members having opposed abutments disposed respectively onropposite/ sides. of said actuator unit, said actuator unitbeng provided .with shifter engaging elements relatively spaced. circularly and longitudinallyl of said unit andseachA adapted to singly engage'an 'abutment on one ofsaid'shifter inembers -means for aXially.translating said actuator unit on said shaft to select the shifter member to be operated and the abutment "thereof to be. engaged; and means for rotat ing the shaft anda'ctuator unit in one direc- `tion toefect .the desired gearjchange and in vareverse direction ,to rotatively normalize said unit. l l

f 10. In a gear shift mechanismpthey combination-of: shifter memberseach separately translatable in opposite directions from a neutral position to 'effect different gear l changes; aV rotary actuator unit having a `plurality of relatively longitudinally spaced shifter engaging elementsand axially translatable across the paths of said shifter ineinbers, said unit alsoliavinganaligning niember; a stationary forked plate providing slots in which the aligning memberinay enlgage .to retain said actuator unitagainst translation duringr a gear shifting operation; means for axiallytranslating sai-d actuator unit to selective positions corresponding to vthe desired gear change;y to position one of said elementsl in cooperative alignment with one of said shifter members; and means for subsequently rotating said unit -in a positive operating. direction to cause said aligned shifter engagin'gelements Aand axially transI f lat-able across thep'atlis of saidshifter members 5v means forjaxially translating said unit to selective positions corresponding. to the desiredgear shift, to position one of said elements in cooperative alignment with'one of saidshifter members; means for subsequentlyrotating said actuator unit in a positive operative directionl to cause said aligned elcment to translate the selected shifter meinber in a proper'direction to eect the desired gear y change; and means l for preventing translation of said 4actuator unit 'during a. gear shifting operation.

l2. In a gear shift mechanism, the combination of: gear shifting members; an actuator therefor operated by the clutch pedal and adapted to be selectively 'translated' prior to each pedal actuation, to determine a vgear change to be effected; escapement means for directinga progressive changing of the gears in advancing from reverse to high driving speeds upon successive actuations of the clutch pedal; and means for predetermini-ng by a single selective operation the scope of such progressivegear changing, said means including a tension element adapted to store energy for progressively translating said actuator through the' selected scope of `pedal actuations necessary to effect the desired speed change.

13. In a gear shift mechanism, `the combination of: gear shifting forks; an independent plate for actuating each fork; a rotary plate actuator translatable axially to selective positions relative to said plates andadapted to move either of saidplates in a forward or a reverse direction during its rotation in one direction and to be reversely rotated to normal rotative position indeacross the paths of said shifter members;

means for translating said unit to selective positions corresponding to the desired gear shift, to positionone of said elements in c0- operative alignment with one of said shifter members; and means forV subsequently rotating said actuator unit in a positive operating .direction to first enga-ge said neutralizing cam surfaces with such shifter member as may have been moved from neutral in a pievious gear change, to neutralize such shifter,

f and to then move the selected shifter member in a proper direction to effect thedesired gear change.

v15. A rotary actuator for a gearI shift mechanism comprising: a body of general nally cut-away to permit axial selective translation'and to provide opposed neutralizing faces and intermediate cylindrical retainingrv surfaces; longitudinally and circularly spaced operating lugs provided upon said retaining surfaces: and clearance grooves in said neutralizing faces. i

16. A rotary actuator for a gear shift mechanism, comprised of: a body ofv general cylindrical shape having diametrieallyopposed' cam surfaces and intermediate cylindrical surfaces; longitudinally and circularly spaced cam lugs extending radially from said cylindrical surfaces; an aligning member Vextending radially from said body; andy clearance grooves in said body aligned With'the respective lugs. i

17. In a gear shift mechanism, the combination of: shifter members each separately movable in opposite directions from' a neutral position to effect different gear changes; a rotary actuator unitselcctively translatable across the paths of said shifter members and having shiftermeinber normalizing means and a plurality of relativelylongitudinally spaced shifter engaging elements; means for translating said unit to a. selective position corresponding to the'desired gear shift, to

position one of said elements in coopeiative alignment with oneof said shifter members; and means for rotating said actuator unit in a positive operative directionv to first insure a normalizing of said shifter members and to subsequently move the selected shifter member in a proper direction to effect the desired gear shift.

i 18. In a gear shift mechanism, the combination of: gear shifting means; an actuating rotor therefor, rotatable between a normal position and an actuating position; means for i cylindrical shape, said bodyy being lon'gitudiapplying power 'suficient for shifting said rotoraXially between lion-consecutive gear shifting stations When said rotor is in normal position; and automatic means for halting said rotor at each intermediate station While said rotor is rotated from normal position to actuating position and back to normal position.

19. In a gear shift mechanism, the combination of: gear shifting means; an actuating rotor therefor, rotatable between' a normal position and an actuating position; means for applying power suflicient for shifting said rotor axially between non-consecutive gear shifting stations when said rotor is in normal position; and automatic means for haltingv stop and yieldable means urging said ratchetmember in a return direct-ion, said stop disuengaging said ratchet means when said vrotor. is rotatedvto actuating 'position and permit-L ting f said vyieldable means to ret-urn said ratchet means to itsoriginal position. f

21. In a gear shift mechanism, the combi'` nation of: an'actuating rotor, rotatable between a normal position and an actuating position; means for applying power -suic'ient for shifting said rotor axially between non consecutive gear shifting stations when said' rotor is in normal position; a. stop formed upon said rotor; a ratchet member engageable by said stop, when said rotor'is in no'rmal position, and mounted :tor a limited shifting with said rotor for the distance between con secutive stations when so engaged by ,said stop; yieldable means urging said ratchet member in a return direction, said stopl disengagingsaid ratchet means when said rotor is rotated to actuating position and permitting said yieldable means to return said ratchet means to its original position; and a guide'engaged by said stop while said rotor is rotated between its normal and'actuating positions to prevent axial movement of said rotor until it is returned to normal position.

22. In a gear shift mechanism, the combination of: an actuating rotor, rotatable between a normal position yand an actuating position; means for applying power sutlicient tor shitting said rotor axially between nonconsecu tive gear shifting stations when said rotor is in normal position; a stop formed uponsaid rotor; a toothed ratchet member engageable by said stop upon one of said ratchet teeth, when said rotor is in normal position, and mounted for a limited shifting with said rotor ior the distance between consecutive stations when so engaged by said. stop; and yieldable means urging saidratchet member in a return direction, said lstop disengaging said ratchet means when saidrotor is rotated to actuating position and permitting said` yieldable means to return said ratchet to its original position, said stop engaging an ado vanced tooth of said ratchet means when said rotor is returned to normal position.

23. In a gear shift mechanism, the combination of: an actuating rotor, rotatable between a normal position and an actuating position; means for applying power suiticient for shifting 'said rotor axially between nonconsecutive gear shifting stations when said turned to Vnormal position. l

rotor is in normal position; a stop `formed upon said rotor; a toothed ratchet member engageable by said stop upon one of said ratchetteeth, when said rotor is in normal position, and mounted for a limited shifting -with said rotor for the distance between consecutive stations when so engaged by said stop; yieldable means urging said ratchet memberl in a return direction, said stop disengaging said ratchet means when said rotor is rotated to actuating position and permit-v tingfsaid 'yieldable means to return said ratchet means to its original position, said e stop engaging an advanced'tooth of said ratchet` means when said rotoris returned to normal position; and a guide. engaged by said stop while said rotor is rotated between its normaland actuating positions to preventaxial movement of said rotor until it is re-l 211i In a gear shift mechanism, the'combination of: an actuating rotor,-rotatable betweena* normal position and an actuating position; means-tor applying power suiicient for shifting said rotor axially between nonconsecutive gear shifting stations when said rotor lis in normal position; a stop formed upon said rotor; a toothed ratchet member engageable by said stop upon one of said ratchet teeth','^wl1en said rotor is in normal position, and mounted for a limited shifting with said rotor for the distance between consecutive stations when so engagedby said stop; and yieldable means urging said ratchet "nation, of: a shifter cam plate translatable in opposite directions from a neutral position to eilect different gear changes, an opening being formed in said plate; a cylindrical rotary actuator vgrooved to form a pair of diametrically opcam unit longitudinally posed normalizing cams, each of which cams has anfaetnating lug, said lugs being spaced .apart axially, there being a clearance slot provided 4in each ofisaid normalizing cams opposite the actuating lug on the other cam; means for moving said unit in an aXialdireetion through the opening in said plate until one of said-lugs is aligned with said plate,` there being normalizing surfaces formed by said opening in said plate on opposite sides of said actuator unit and lying in planes sub- 4 stantially tangent to the cylindrical surface of said actuator unit when said plate is in neutral position, and there being an actuating surface formed by said opening adjacent to each of said normalizing'surfaces and substantially parallel thereto; and means for ro-v tating said cam unit, when so axially posi-r tioned, so that the normalizing cam aligned With said plate Will contact a normalizing surface thereof, if said cam plate is disposed in a given gear shifting position, and will.

move said cam plate to neutral position, and so that said aligned lug will then engage the actuating surface adjacent to said contacted normalizingl surface and move said cam plate into another gear shifting position.

26. A gear shift mechanism 'constructed and operating as described in claim 25, in which the normalizing surface opposite that which is contacted vmoves into the clearance slot opposite said active lug when said lug moves said cam plate into. gear shifting position.

, 27. In a gear shift mechanism, the combination of: shifting members each separately movablev in'opposite directions from a nent-ral position to effect different gear changes; a shaft; a rotary actuator unit having a plurality of relatively spaced shifter engaginer elements and axially translatable upon sait shaft across the -paths of said shifter mem'- bers; means for axially translating said unit to selective positions corresponding to the given normal radial position during'the un-l v clutching portion of the forward movement of said clutch pedal, said runner tlienengag-` ing the end of said slot and positively rotat-I ing said arm during further movement of said clutch' pedal, the return movement of said clutch pedal causing posi-tive return rotation of said arm and its positive retention in said normal position in reverse order from that caused by the forward motion of said clutch pedal.

bracin v28. A rotary actuator-.for a gear shift Vmechanism comprising: a body of general path, and a shaft, said meehanisni`compiising: an arm secured on said shaft, said arm having a non-radial slot foiined therein; a link pivoted at one end to said primary member,` the other end having a guiding means whereby said link moves through a definite path relative to said shaft when said primary member is moved; and a runner prof `vided on said link and sliding in said slot to retain said arm in a given normal radial position during the first portion of a given movement of said primary member, said runner then engaging an end of said slot and positively rotating said arm during further movement of said primary member, the return movement of said primary member positively causing return rotation of said arm,and its positive retention in said normal position, in reverse order from that caused by the original movement of said primary member.

30. A mechanism las described in claim 29, in Which said guiding means comprises a sec ond slot formed in said link and slidably emsaid shaft.

31. mechanism as described in claim 29,

in which `said*guiding means comprises a second slot formed in said link and slidably embracingsaid shaft, said runner, when engaging said end of said first slot to turn said larm, .being at a radius fioni the axis of the shaft which is greater than the distance of said runner from the axis of said second slot, said second slot therefore having an arcuatesurface to permit said runner to revolve a given distance about the axis of said shaft at said radius.

` In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand 'at Los Angeles, California, this 11th day lof March, 1926.

BENJAMIN F. SCHMIDT. 

